See Pictures of the Moon Eclipsing Saturn Wednesday
The Moon slid in front of Saturn Wednesday evening in a rare eclipsing event known to astronomers as an occultation. While many potential observers were frustrated by persistent cloud cover, those who found a clear patch of sky got a stunning view. The best looks came just after sunset in the Eastern United States, though at least one seasoned observer with a high-powered telescope recorded the occultation in a remarkable series of daytime pictures.
The event seen in a daytime sky.
Click to Enlarge PHOTO: Clay Sherrod, Arkansas Sky Observatory |
Clay Sherrod of the Arkansas Sky Observatory said he first thought it would be impossible to photograph the event during daylight, which is when it occurred across much of North America.
"Saturn's rings are so close to the same color and intensity as the bright blue sky that they are easily lost in the image," Sherrod said this morning. But, he added, "a little luck and a little experience paid off."
Tom Martinez made a series of photographs in the evening sky as Saturn and its rings emerged from behind the Moon. Martinez used a Nikon Coolpix 995 attached to the Powell Observatory's 30" telescope in Louisburg, Kansas. [See photo at the top of this page.]
Similar occultations of Saturn occurred in November and December of 2001. But for the next two decades, memories and yesterday's photos will have to do for the majority of backyard astronomers in North America.
"Most Americans won't see another Saturn occultation this good for two decades," says Joe Rao, SPACE.com's Spacewatch columnist. "In the majority of North America, the next similar chance will come in the year 2024, followed by 2036 and 2037."
Two bright planets will be near the Moon, high in the sky on Feb. 21. This is how it will look at around 7 p.m. from mid-latitudes.
SPACE.com image made using Starry Night Software |
Meanwhile, Saturn and the Moon will make a nice joint appearance in the sky Thursday evening, Feb. 21. Anyone with clear skies who can find the Moon will see the yellowish Saturn close by. As a bonus, extremely bright Jupiter will hover in the vicinity, too. Both planets will be brighter than any nearby stars.
On Friday, Jupiter and the Moon make an incredibly close pass, called a conjunction. Because Jupiter is the brightest point of light in the night sky, Rao figures this event will attract more attention than Wednesday's Saturn occultation.
More Information about Friday's Event
Includes local time tables for Jupiter's conjunction with the Moon.
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